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Isaiah 7:1-9:7
Introduction
In the time just before Isaiah's ministry as a prophet, both the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah had been able to enjoy a period of relative peace. Assyria had been under the rule of three successive rulers who were not men of war. Because of this, both Israel and Judah increased in wealth and prosperity. The result was that both nations had abandoned their trust in the Lord and neglected to live according to the His law.
Now a new and very aggressive ruler, Tiglath-Pileser III, had ascended to Assyria's throne and was on the march. His sights were on Israel and Syria. They sought Judah's support to join them against the Assyrians. The king of Judah at the time of the writing of Isaiah (Ahaz) found himself "between a rock and a hard place." He didn't dare incur the wrath of Assyria by allying himself with Israel and Syria. But allying himself with Assyria against Israel and Syria would certainly mean his death at their hands if they were successful against Assyria.
Ahaz was so out of touch with God that he didn't even consider a third option—seeking the Lord's help and letting Him defend the nation against its enemies. After all, that is what He had promised to do by covenant if they would follow His commands.
Deuteronomy 28:1, 7 (NIV) 1If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. . . 7The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
Let us put our present passage in the context of what has been studied previously. Isaiah opens with . . .
I. God's Messages for Judah and Jerusalem, Isa 1:1-12:6
The beginning of these messages was concerned with . . .
A. Jerusalem's Past, Present and Future, Isa 1:1-5:30.
These messages contained condemnation for ignoring God's covenant, walking after the ways of other nations, and warnings of judgment to come as a result of their disobedience. But also it is a message of hope of future restoration after God had done His work of discipline.
The next major section of Isaiah focuses upon . . .
B. Isaiah and King Ahaz, Isa 6:1-12:6
As noted in our previous study, Isaiah first describes . . .
1. The call from the throne, Isaiah 6
He then proceeds to address . . .
2. The crisis in the kingdom of Ahaz, Isa 7:1-20
a. The crisis described, Isa 7:1-2
1) A fragile condition, Isa 7:1
Isaiah 7:1 (NIV) 1When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.
2) A fearful circumstance, Isa 7:2
Isaiah 7:2 (NIV) 2Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim;" so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
b. The promise given, Isa 7:3-9 (7:9)
1) God is aware of the situation, Isa 7:3-7.
2) God has a plan in place, Isa 7:8-9a.
3) God's promise is as sure as your faith in it, Isa 7:9b-10.
Isaiah 7:9 (NIV) 9 "The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."
c. The opportunity for a sign of assurance offered, Isa 7:11
Isaiah 7:11 (NIV) 11"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
d. The gracious offer of God snubbed, Isa 7:12
Isaiah 7:12 (NIV) 12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
e. The sign of God's own choosing stated, Isa 7:13-25
1) It was the response of a God whose patience had been tried,
Isa 7:13.
2) It was the assurance of God's presence with His people,
Isa 7:14.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
3) It was the promise of their enemies' defeat (Aram [Syria]) and Israel's defeat , Isa 7:15-16.
Isaiah 7:15-16 (NIV) 15He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
4) It was a promise that the one in whom Ahaz had put his trust (Assyria) would in short time become their oppressor instead, Isa 7:17-25.
Isaiah 7:18-20 (NIV) 18In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 19They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. 20In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also.
Chapter eight records two messages to Isaiah from the Lord. The first concerns . . .
3. The coming Assyrian invasion , Isa 8:1-10
a. A name to symbolize the quick fulfillment of God's word,
Isa 8:1-4.
b. A price to be paid for failure to trust in God, Isa 8:5-8
c. But, a promise of eventual victory for God's people, Isa 8:9-10
The Lord's second message to Isaiah in chapter eight is . . .
4. The caution given to Isaiah, Isa 8:11-15
He needs the right perspective on coming events, Isa 8:11-18.
a. The general consensus is not the right perspective, Isa 8:11.
b. The fears of the people are not to be Isaiah's, Isa 8:12.
c. The fear of the Lord is the proper response for all those seeking a safe place, Isa 8:13-14a.
Isaiah 8:13-14a (NIV) 13The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, 14aand he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.
d. The rejection of the Lord will become a trap and stumbling stone to those who reject Him, Isa 8:14b-15.
Isaiah 8:14b-15 (NIV) 14bAnd for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. 15Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured."
5. The concluding of further preaching—trust in the message the Lord has revealed, Isa 8:16-22
Isaiah 8:16-17 (NIV) 16Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. 17I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.
a. The prophet must lead by example, Isa 8:18.
b. The prophet must point others to the message delivered (nothing new is needed), Isa 8:18-22.
6. The communicating of a future hope, Isa 9:1-7
People are often desiring deliverance from just the current crisis, and once it has passed will return to their old ways—it's human nature in its fallen state. But God is not interested in short-term solutions to long-term problems. He wants us to envision a day when the darkness that has often overtaken us is replaced with everlasting light. He aids us in visualizing that day with some of the greatest words of hope in all of scripture.
a. Darkness will turn to light, Isa 9:1-2
Isaiah 9:1-2 (NIV) 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death,a light has dawned.
b. Sorrow will turn to joy, Isa 9:3.
Isaiah 9:3 (NIV) 3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
c. Oppression will turn to freedom, Isa 9:4-5.
Isaiah 9:4-5 (NIV) 4For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
d. God will come to reign, Isa 9:6-7.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Relevance
1. Sometimes we look at difficult situations in our lives and think that there is no hope for deliverance without making some sort of compromise. Do not make the mistake of Ahaz and leave God out of the equation. In fact, we often insure our defeat by not consulting and trusting in God. He wants us to know that He is our Protector and Deliverer. His is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. He is zealous about bringing about His kingdom and will not fail to do so. When He does, all the other things we feared and submitted to in this life besides God will be as nothing.
2. Have you come to understand that all other things that you have depended upon for satisfaction, comfort, meaning, and hope are only temporary and will be left behind when eternity begins? What will you have then? Nothing, if you don't have God!
Mark 8:36 (N(V) 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
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